Shoe having a spinal disk material damping element

ABSTRACT

A shoe such as a pump, high heel shoe, or stiletto, has an insole and a heel. In the heel, the insole and/or the ball region, at least one damping element is integrated. The damping element has a Shore D hardness in the range of 28-33, a modulus of elasticity in the range of 28-38 MPa, and a tensile stress of 9-11 at 600% elongation. In this way, a shoe is realized that is elegantly fashioned and can be provided with a high-quality design without having to compromise on comfort and convenience.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation application claims priority to PCT/EP2016/054558 filed on Mar. 3, 2016 which has published as WO 2016/146397 A1 and also the German application number 10 2015 204 927.2 filed on Mar. 19, 2015, the entire contents of which are fully incorporated herein with these references.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a pump, high-heel shoe or stiletto, having an insole and a heel, wherein a damping element is integrated in the heel and/or in the insole, in particular in the region of the heel and/or the ball of the foot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A shoe having rubber elements arranged in the insole is known from US 2007/0151124 A1.

Damping soles are used in particular in sports shoes in order to damp the forces which act on the body when running and jumping. Since sports shoes can have very thick soles, correspondingly large quantities of different damping materials can be used.

Particularly with elegant ladies' shoes (high heels), however, this is not possible since the design does not permit the use of large quantities of damping material. In addition, feet and joints are subjected to different loads when walking in high heels from those when jogging or walking. Ladies who like to wear high heels therefore have to live with side-effects such as pain in the front foot (“burning of the balls of the feet”), blisters, swollen feet, up to long-term damage for the joints and back.

It is known to place gel inlays at the painful locations in the shoe. However, this impairs the fit of the shoe in most cases. Often gel inlays are recommended as products to prevent sliding or for an increase in retention in high or excessively large shoes. In addition, they are intended to help to prevent pressure locations and also to bring relief in regions which are subjected to significant loads. Current gel inlays are in most cases silicon inlays whose damping properties are, however, rather low or not present.

US 2007/0151124 A1 discloses a shoe in which there are provided in the insole recesses in which inserts of thermoplastic rubber material are inserted. In order to achieve a noticeable damping effect, the thickness of the inserts is selected to be greater than the height of the recess within the insole. However, this results in the inserts being able to be perceived as foreign bodies which is haptically generally perceived to be unnatural and disruptive, in particular during walking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a shoe, in particular a ladies' shoe with a high heel, which is constructed in an elegant manner and which can be provided with a high-quality design without having to forego comfort and convenience.

Statement of Invention

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the damping element has a Shore D hardness in the range from 28 to 33, preferably in the range from 28.5 to 29.5, a modulus of elasticity in the range from 28 to 38 MPa, preferably in the range from 32 to 36 MPa, and a tensile stress of from 9 to 11, preferably from 9.5 to 10.5 MPa, at 600% extension. Such damping elements are referred to below as BSW elastomers (intervertebrate disc material elastomer) damping elements.

The combination of these properties results in the BSW damping element, on the one hand, feeling (in contrast to conventional damping elements used in shoes) hard, with a high pressure loading, as is the case, for example, in shoes with high narrow heels, but absorbing a large portion of the energy which is introduced and consequently bringing about relief of the foot joints, knee joints and the spine. As a result of the selected hardness and the restoring and force action behaviour resulting from the parameters according to the invention, the BSW damping elements can also be effectively used in elegant ladies' shoes with high heels which was only possible in a limited manner with conventional soft damping elements since these either (as a result of the limited space) have too little damping or (as a result of the soft material) are too unstable to ensure secure movement while wearing the shoes.

The BSW damping elements have similar mechanical properties to an intervertebral disc implant. As a result of the use of such BSW damping elements in the insole of shoes, pressure differences can be compensated for in an optimum manner and excellent shock absorption is achieved. In particular, the damping element according to the invention is distinguished by a high resilience, a high stress crack resistance and a high abrasion resistance. The shoe according to the invention consequently allows damping of the pressure on the front foot (balls of feet) and the heel.

Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

In a special embodiment, the BSW damping element is constructed as an insole or as part of the insole. The BSW damping element thus not only performs the function of damping, but also (at least partially) performs the functions of an insole (connection between the outer sole and cover sole or upper shoe).

Alternatively, the insole may have at least one recess, wherein the damping element(s) is/are arranged in the at least one recess. The insole preferably comprises a common insole material, for example, leather, leather fiber materials, synthetic fiber fabric, etcetera.

The advantages of the invention are particularly evident in shoes with high heels (high heels), preferably higher than 9 cm, and/or shoes with small heel surfaces (stilettos), preferably 1 cm2 (spike heel), since in this instance particularly large forces/pressure act(s) on the ball region or a particularly high pressure acts in the heel region.

In addition to the BSW damping elements in the insole, with the shoe according to the invention additional BSW damping elements may be integrated in the heel, wherein in the context of the invention “integrated” is not intended to mean that the damping element has to be arranged inside the heel, but instead forms the heel of the shoe together with other heel elements.

Preferably, the damping element is produced from an admixture of at least two thermoplastic elastomers.

Preferably, the thermoplastic elastomers differ in terms of their Shore D hardness and/or their modulus of elasticity and/or in terms of their tensile stress. Consequently, these properties can be influenced in a selective manner by the formulation of the different elastomers and consequently can be adapted to different requirements in order to obtain similar mechanical properties to those found in a human or artificial intervertebral disc.

It is particularly advantageous for the damping element to have a bending modulus of elasticity (Young's modulus) in the range from 28 to 38 MPa.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the shoe according to the invention, the thermoplastic elastomers are thermoplastic elastomers based on copolymers, in particular with polyether soft segments. Particularly advantageous properties are produced, for example, when poly(ether-ester) copolymers with Shore D hardness's between 25 and 33 in admixture ratios of 70:30 to 30:70, in particular in a ratio of 60:40 to 50:50, are used.

Alternatively, the thermoplastic elastomers may also be thermoplastic polyurethanes.

The BSW damping elements are preferably produced by means of extrusion in an injection-molding method.

Preferably, the BSW damping elements are securely fixed in the insole, in particular adhesively bonded.

Preferably, at least one BSW damping element is integrated in the insole, that is to say, the insole has a recess in which the damping element is inserted in such a manner that the damping element ends flush with the insole. The depth of the recess and the thickness of the damping element are thus adapted to each other. To this end, it is advantageous for the damping element to have a constant thickness of a few millimetres, in particular 5.5 mm, preferably 3 mm. As a result of the BSW damping elements according to the invention, effective damping can be achieved even with such a small thickness. By using BSW damping elements with a constant thickness, the wear comfort of the shoe is not influenced in a negative manner by the shape of the damping elements. The wearer does not feel and see the BSW damping element since these are an integral component of the insole and ends flush with the surface thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the shoe according the invention, the heel is constructed partially as a damping element which is arranged between two portions of a heel base member.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the heel damping element has a continuous vertical recess, through which a fixing element can be introduced in order to fix the heel damping element to the two portions of the heel base member 6.

The heel BSW damping element preferably has a thickness of a few millimeters, in particular at least 5.5 mm.

It is particularly advantageous for the portion of the heel which is constructed as a BSW damping element to be covered in an annular manner. The damping element is consequently protected from external influences. Furthermore, the annular cover indicates the effect of the BSW material and indicates the extension of the intervertebral disc which is responsible for the “comfort/convenience”. The cover may be constructed as a coating, for example, of leather, or as a removable clip.

In order to increase the stability of the heel, the heel of the shoe may be at least partially produced from carbon. The heel may thus have, for example, a frame construction of carbon.

The invention also relates to the use of an admixture of different elastomers, in particular based on copolymers, with polyether soft segments for damping elements in shoes, in particular in pumps, high-heel shoes or stiletto shoes. However, the BSW damping elements may also be advantageously used in leisure shoes, shoes for men, and in flat ladies' shoes, such as ballerina shoes, with or without a high heel.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a shoe, in particular a pump, high-heel shoe or stiletto shoe, wherein BSW damping elements comprising an admixture of at least two different elastomers are first produced. An insole and/or a heel is/are provided with at least one recess in which the damping element is finally introduced and secured as an integral component of the insole/heel. To this end, the insole material is first fulled and cut on the shoe tree. The material thickness of the insoles corresponds in this instance to that of the BSW damping elements. At the points of impact under the heel and ball, the insoles are cut so that these portions of the insoles can be removed. The recesses which are thereby produced are processed in such a manner that the BSW damping elements can be inserted in a precisely fitting manner. In the ball region, the fitting damping elements are then adhesively bonded. In the heel region, however, the cut-out portions of the base member of the insole are first inserted again (where applicable, only lightly adhesively bonded to the cut faces so that they do not fall out during the remainder of the production of the shoes but can be removed again without being destroyed). This is very important since the heels subsequently have to be screwed through the insole after removal from the shoe tree without the damping element being screwed, in order not to impair the damping properties. After a filling has been introduced and the heels have been assembled, soles are applied and the shoe tree is removed from the shoes. Subsequently, in the heel region, the portions which have been cut out from the insole are lifted out. The heels are screwed through the insoles, the damping elements are inserted into the corresponding recesses and adhesively bonded. The insoles are glued in.

The shoe according to the invention comprises a sole with BSW damping elements for pressure absorption which are integrated in the insole or are part of the insole, wherein the BSW damping elements imitate mechanical properties of an intervertebral disc implant and acting as an insole or an integral component of the insole results in particular in high heels being able to be worn over a longer period of time with a high degree of wearing comfort and convenience. The biomechanics of the BSW material which is unique in the shoe sector brings about an effective reduction of the action of force on specific loading locations in the foot and thus provides a remedy for the unpleasant symptoms and long-term side-effects, such as, for example, pressure marks and the deformation of the feet. A wearer using the invention described here can walk longer in high heels without any pain.

Other advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the description and the drawings. The features which are mentioned above and those set out in greater detail below can also be used according to the invention individually per se or together in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be understood to be a definitive listing but are instead of an exemplary nature to describe the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is an exploded view of a ladies' shoe according to the invention, wherein the elements of the shoe are illustrated in a transparent manner,

FIG. 1b is a side view of the shoe according to the invention from FIG. 1 a;

FIGS. 2a, b are a perspective view and a side view of a ball damping element for a shoe according to the invention;

FIGS. 3a, b are a perspective view and a side view of a heel damping element for a shoe according to the invention;

FIGS. 4a, b are a perspective view, a plan view and a sectioned illustration of a heel damping element for a shoe according to the invention;

FIG. 5a shows a BSW damping element which is constructed as an insole; and

FIG. 5b shows a BSW damping element which is constructed as a part-sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a ladies' shoe 1 with a high heel 2. The shoe 1 has an insole 3 which is provided with recesses 4 a, 4 b in the ball region and heel region. Damping elements 5 a, 5 b are arranged in the recesses 4 a, 4 b. The recesses 4 a, 4 b of the insole 3 are precisely so large that the damping elements 5 a, 5 b can be received in the non-loaded state. The insole 3 with the damping elements 5 a, 5 b is covered with a cover sole 9. The heel 2 comprises a base member 6 which is interrupted in the lower third by a further recess 4 c. In the further recess 4 c, there is arranged a further damping element 5 c (heel damping element) which is secured to the base member 6 of the heel 2 and which forms the heel 2 therewith. The heel damping element 5 c is covered in the example shown in FIG. 1b by an annular cover 8.

In FIGS. 2 to 5, a preferred embodiment of the individual damping elements 5 a, 5 b, 5 c′ is illustrated in detail. The damping elements 5 a, 5 b which are intended to be arranged in the recesses 4 a, 4 b have a uniform thickness.

FIGS. 5a, 5b show embodiments of the BSW damping element 5, 5′ according to the invention which are not arranged in recesses of the insole, but instead are themselves constructed as an insole or portion of the insole.

The heel damping element 5 c′ has in the example shown the same cross-section as the base member 6 of the heel 2 in the region of the interruption, wherein (in contrast to the heel damping element 5 c shown in FIGS. 1 a, 1 b) there is provided a continuous vertical recess 7 (that is to say, in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the heel 2), through which a fixing element can be introduced for fixing the two portions of the heel base member 6 to the heel damping element 5 c. The insertion of the heel damping element 5 c may, for example, be carried out by the base member of the heel 2 being separated all the way around, but without separating an internal metal sleeve (fixing element). The heel damping element 5 c is, for example, separated at the front side with a cut and inserted into the gap between the two components of the base member 6 and adhesively bonded. The heel damping element 5 c is consequently arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the two components of the base member 6 of the heel 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Shoe

2 Heel

3 Insole

4 a, 4 b Recesses in insole

4 c Recess in heel (interruption of the heel base member)

5 a, 5 b Damping elements for region of heel and ball of foot

5 c, 5 c′ Heel damping element

5 Damping element which is constructed as a sole

5′ Damping element which is constructed as a part-sole

6 Base member of the heel

7 Recess in the heel damping element

8 Cover

9 Cover sole 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe, comprising: an insole; and a heel; wherein at least one damping element is integrated in the heel and/or in the insole, in the region of the heel and/or the ball of the foot; and wherein the at least one damping element has a Shore D hardness in the range from 28 to 33, a modulus of elasticity in the range from 28 to 38 MPa, and a tensile stress of from 9 to 11 at 600% extension.
 2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the damping element is constructed as an insole or as part of the insole.
 3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the insole has at least one recess, wherein the at least one damping element is arranged in the at least one recess.
 4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the damping element is produced from an admixture of at least two thermoplastic elastomers.
 5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic elastomers differ in terms of their Shore D hardness and/or their modulus of elasticity and/or in terms of their tensile stress.
 6. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic elastomers are thermoplastic elastomers based on copolymers with polyether soft segments.
 7. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the thermoplastic elastomers are thermoplastic polyurethanes.
 8. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping elements is securely connected to the insole by being adhesively bonded.
 9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping element has a constant thickness of a few millimeters being ≦5.5 mm.
 10. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one damping element has a constant thickness of a few millimeters being ≦3 mm.
 11. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel is constructed partially as a damping element which is arranged between two portions of a heel base member.
 12. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the heel damping element has a continuous vertical recess, through which a fixing element can be introduced in order to fix the heel damping element to the two portions of the heel base member.
 13. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the portion of the heel which is constructed as a damping element is covered in an annular manner.
 14. The shoe according to claim 12, wherein the portion of the heel which is constructed as a damping element is covered in an annular manner.
 15. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel has a frame construction of carbon.
 16. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe is a pump, a high-heel shoe or a stiletto.
 17. Use of a material with a Shore hardness in the range from 28 to 33, a modulus of elasticity in the range from 28 to 38 MPa, and a tensile stress of from 9 to 11 MPa at 600% extension for damping elements in shoes.
 18. The use according to claim 17, wherein the material contains an admixture of different elastomers based on copolymers with polyether soft segments.
 19. The use according to claim 18, wherein the shoes are pumps, high-heel shoes or stilettos.
 20. Use of a material with a Shore hardness in the range from 28.5 to 29.5, a modulus of elasticity in the range from 32 to 36 MPa, and a tensile stress of from 9.5 to 10.5 MPa at 600% extension for damping elements in shoes.
 21. The use according to claim 20, wherein the shoes are pumps, high-heel shoes or stilettos. 